A comparative evaluation of a novel PN code acquisition system using a fast preliminary search of the ambiguity area

A new method for initial code acquisition in spread spectrum systems is compared in terms of the resulting mean acquisition time with the single dwell acquisition scheme in the case where a non-uniform a priori information is provided and advanced searching strategies are utilised. The novel scheme employs a fast preliminary search (FPS) of the ambiguity area. The results of the fast search are used as a priori information for the final search. The probability of false ranking P_fr is defined as a measure of the reliability of the a priori information provided by the fast preliminary search. A similar idea, used to perform a spatial search for a lost satellite in a region of the sky, has been described by Posner (1963)